Feastday: August 13
This saint's feast is observed liturgically throughout all Ireland and he is patron of the diocese of Ross, where he was probably the first bishop. He was born at Tulachteann, was one of the pupils of St. Ita, and founded the monastery of Molana on an island in the Blackwater, near Youghal. But his great achievement was the establishment of the monastic school of Ross, at what is now Rosscarbery, in county Cork, one of the most famous schools of Ireland, which flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans. Fachanan (Fachtna) suffered for a time from blindness, from which he recovered at the intercession of St. Ita's sister, who was about to give birth to St. Mochoemog. St. Fachanan was revered as a "wise and upright man", with a great gift for preaching; St. Cuimin of connor said of him that he was "generous and steadfast, fond of preaching to the people and saying nothing that was base or displeasing to God". His feast day is August 13th.
Not to be confused with Saint Fachanan or Fachtna of Kiltoom.
Fachtna of Rosscarbery, known also as Fachanan, was the founder of the monastery of Rosscarbery (Ros Ailithir), County Cork. He died around 600.
Life
He established a monastery and school in the area now known as Rosscarbery towards the end of the sixth century. His monastery became the principal monastery of west Cork, and later had a famous Scripture school known as the School of Ross. Brendan, the Navigator, taught in this school, which was crowded by students from every land. It flourished for three hundred years and survived in some form until the coming of the Normans to Ireland. It was the centre from which the Diocese of Ross developed.
Fachtna, born at a place called Tulachteann, was one of the pupils of Saint Ita and studied at Saint Finbarr's school at Loch Eirce (Gougane Barra). Before establishing the monastic school of Ross, he founded the monastery of Molana on an island in the Blackwater, near Youghal.
In some Latin documents he is called Fachtna Facundus (Fachtna the Eloquent) and even spoken of as Sanctus Facundus. In Irish records he is generally referred to as Mac Mongach (Hairy Child), because he was reported to have been born with his head covered with hair. The interpretation of this phrase by James Ussher and others as meaning Son of Mongach was rejected by Mervyn Archdall.
The description of Saint Fachtna in Cuimin of Connor's poem on the characteristic virtues of the Irish saints is:
- Fachtna, the generous and steadfast, loved
- To instruct the crowds in concert,
- He never spoke that which was mean,
- Nor aught but what was pleasing to his Lord.
Mention is made of Fachtna and Conall of Ros Ailithir within the scholia of the Félire Óengusso in connection with Ciarán of Saigir the Elder who was born and raised on Cape Clear Island.
Veneration
His feast day was 14 August but, since in the General Roman Calendar that date is now occupied by the memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Saint Fachtna is now venerated, even in the Diocese of Ross, on 13 August.
Patronage
St. Fachtna is the Patron Saint of the Diocese of Ross.
